Social Media
Age checks clear path for social media ban
A government-backed trial has found age verification tech works well enough to enforce Labor’s plan to keep under-16s off social platforms.
As Jack Quail explains in The Australian, that paves the way for a December 10 start date, when apps from TikTok to YouTube will be required to block younger users.
But there’s a catch, according to Josh Taylor in The Guardian.
A government-backed trial into age assurance found that errors were inevitable, especially for users hovering around the 16-year-old mark.
The $6.5 million project, run by the UK’s Age Check Certification Scheme, suggested platforms may need backup measures like ID verification when age estimation tools fall short.
Meanwhile…
Meta executives are on their way to Canberra amid the drama.
The Australian Financial Review’s Amelia McGuire and Sam Buckingham-Jones report that Meta’s global head of safety Antigone Davis and engineering lead Dustin Ho are in Australia this week for meetings with eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant over the issue.
Journalism
Behind-the-scenes tensions hit ACA
Turns out the juiciest A Current Affair stories aren’t making it to air.
Word from Steve Jackson in The Australian is Nine’s HR team has been dragged into a flare-up between two of the Melbourne bureau’s senior staffers.
Veteran producer Kate Goulopoulos has reportedly filed a formal complaint against reporter Georgia Westgarth after a clash over workload and story priorities boiled over.
This latest drama follows hot on the heels of the awkward exit of executive producer Amy McCarthy just over a week ago.
John Malone reveals Fox-Warner talks with Rupert Murdoch
John Malone says he held “serious” talks with Rupert Murdoch last year about merging Warner Bros Discovery and Fox, but the idea collapsed over the awkward prospect of combining CNN and Fox News.
Daniel Thomas in The Australian Financial Review writes that the 84-year-old “cable cowboy” is promoting his autobiography, revisiting a career of dealmaking from TCI to Liberty Media, while flagging future moves in sport and entertainment.
Malone also confirmed most of his US$10 billion fortune will go to philanthropy, but for now his “urge to merge” remains undimmed.
Streaming
Apple TV Plus bumps price
Apple TV Plus has quietly hiked its monthly fee in Australia from $12.99 to $15.99, doubling the price since launch and putting it level with Disney Plus and Max.
Coincidentally, the increase lands just in time for the new season of Slow Horses, the platform’s breakout hit. Funny that.
As Kevin Perry writes in TV Blackbox, it’s the third rise in as many years, though Apple has kept its $129 annual plan and Apple One bundles unchanged.
Advertising
Sir Martin Sorrell and Ndidi Oteh join SXSW Sydney lineup
The Australian’s Danielle Long writes that SXSW Sydney has added some serious advertising firepower to next month’s conference program, with Sir Martin Sorrell and Accenture Song CEO Ndidi Oteh confirmed as headline speakers.
Sorrell, now leading S4 Capital after founding WPP, will share his outlook on the industry’s future, while Oteh, who recently succeeded David Droga at Accenture Song, will feature in a fireside chat of her own.
Both sessions are expected to be big draws for the marketing and media crowd.
Publishing
Daily Mail Australia appoints Aaron Macarthur as head of sales
Daily Mail Australia has named Aaron Macarthur as its new Head of Sales, a role that will see him lead the national sales operation and focus on growing digital revenue, innovation and partnerships.
He steps into the position with almost two decades of experience across media and ad tech.
Radio
Audit exposes funding chaos at Koori Radio operator
A Deloitte review has flagged more than $200,000 moved to a debit card in ex-chair John Leha’s name and nearly $250,000 in grant money that was “not transparently managed” at Gadigal Information Service, which runs Koori Radio.
As Amber Schultz details in The Sydney Morning Herald, the organisation has since been barred from state grants, with insiders describing operations as “chaos”.
The audit covered January 2022 to October 2023, including funds meant for studio upgrades.